The Campaign for
Lord Carlisle Heritage TrailFor generations, access has been enjoyed along the route that follows the historic Lord Carlisle’s Railway. Walkers, horse riders and cyclists have used the track for safe travel between villages, enabling access to amenities, nature and public transport. With the recent sale of portions of land, this valued asset is now at risk of being permanently lost.
Our Aims
Through liaison and engagement with affected communities, local landowners and statutory bodies, the organisation is actively seeking to restore and protect public enjoyment and community connection along the route of the Lord Carlisle railway for generations to come. This will involve submitting a Definitive Map Modification Order to Cumberland Council to designate the old railway route as a recognised Right of Way. Separately a request for the route to be recorded as an Asset of Community Value.
How You Can Help
Your insights and contributions play a crucial role in safeguarding the future of the Lord Carlisle Heritage Trail. We invite you to share your thoughts, experiences, and memories related to this historic route, as your feedback helps shape our proposals and ensures that the trail remains a treasured asset for all. Equally important, your generous donations are vital in funding our initiatives, enabling us to advocate for the restoration and protection of this beloved pathway. Together, we can work towards a sustainable future where the charm of the Lord Carlisle railway continues to be enjoyed by walkers, cyclists, and horse riders for generations to come.
A Right of Way
We have come together as a dedicated group of concerned local residents and route users to establish the Campaign for the Lord Carlisle Heritage Trail. Our primary goal is to ensure the restoration of the damaged land west of Whites Cut and to advocate for the official designation of the route from Halton Lea Gate to Hallbankgate as a public right of way. By securing this status, the group aims to safeguard the trail for future generations, preserving its historical and cultural significance within the community and providing the only safe pedestrian passage between villages. This application requires evidence of use of any part, or all, of the route from Halton Lea Gate to Hallbankgate over the past twenty years and beyond.
Setting the Scene
The track bed and route of the old railway from Hallbankgate east as far as Halton Lea Gate has been used by members of the public for generations. The route has connected villages along it’s length and provided safe passage without using the main A689 road. As well as its leisure enjoyment, the route has been used for travel to work, school and trips to the local Co-op in Halton Lea Gate and Hallbankgate.
In the early 2000s, Sustrans (now known as the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust) developed the former Lord Carlisle’s Railway between Tindale Fell and Halton-Lea-Gate as a footpath and cycleway.
Despite its local value and importance, the route was removed from its Network Development Plan and the charity sold two sections of land at auction in November 2025. No consultation with the affected communities or local authority was made prior to the time of sale and the land was taken into new ownership in January 2026.
Troubled Track
In January 2026, the new owner of the Whites Cut section near Midgeholme, carried out extensive groundworks without the necessary planning permissions, resulting in significant damage to the site’s ecological and heritage value. Access along the track and Public Footpath No. 120007 has been obstructed and the owner has stated an intention to develop the land, including building over the former railway line. This event made national press, you may click here to view the article.
Separately, a wooden bridge east of Tindale Fell was removed by the Knarsdale Estate in November 2024 following a partial collapse. Efforts to secure its reinstatement have so far been unsuccessful.
Action so Far
An initial public meeting, held on 3rd February in Hallbankgate, was attended by over 120 people to discuss the significant environmental damage caused and concerns about the obstructed access.
Cumberland Councillor Dobson and Chris Woodley-Stewart, Director of North Pennines National Landscape Partnership outlined the scope of the damage and the lack of approval by the planning authority and other relevant organisations.
In a follow-up public meeting, chaired by Cumberland Councillor Dobson on 17th February, Ted Liddle (a countryside access advocate and former surveyor for Sustrans) and Kieran Foster (Access Officer for the Byways & Bridleways Trust) suggested a viable way forward – they outlined how interested citizens could set up a Community Interest Company (CIC) to raise funds to recreate a ‘Greenway’ route that followed the original rail route. Key to success would be the assembly of an evidence base created by local people who can testify that they had used the route as a bridleway, or a walkway or for cycling over the last 20 years or more.
On 3rd March 2026, an inaugural meeting of the Campaign for the Lord Carlisle Heritage Trail was attended by 41 people. A majority vote accepted the proposed Constitution, and a committee was elected to help move the proposals forward.